am glad that (for whatever reason) the Italians are still quiet. Louis
Napoleon will certainly sooner or later get embroiled; and unless there
were new facts unknown to me ... I earnestly hope they will wait. The
Germans are a slow people; but they will move in time. Every German I see
believes this.... 'We without them cannot be made perfect,' seems to me
the clue to European oppressions. While stupid barbarism exists in masses,
it will be the tool of tyranny against the more educated and refined and
wealthy....

"Ever yours,
"F. W. Newman."


In November, 1855, he discusses public affairs, with relation to Louis
Napoleon, with Dr. Nicholson:--

"....I should indeed like to have the talk on public affairs which you
suggested; but things have moved on since then! Friends of mine dread that
the difficulties of French finance will precipitate Louis N. into a base
peace. I argue,--it will then be into one so base that the French will not
endure it. For the Russians _know_ the French difficulties; and if
proposals of peace come first from France, or if they see French action
become slacker, they will yield _nothing_, and make sure of a peace which
saves all their territory and reserves all their free action.... Only
yesterday came the news of Omar Pasha's 5th November victory. Even if it
be exaggerated, still the repulse at Kars and this new defeat make it
impossible for Russia to make peace _now_ without a humiliation such as L.
N. cannot attempt to remove. It _may_ so be that L. N. will be blown up by
his finance and by popular discontent; it may also be that his
difficulties will lead him to make popular concessions to the spirit of